Blessed by the shoe fairy!

As most women are, I am obsessed with shoes! I mean its one accessory that you wear everyday! However since the beginning of last year, when our financial situation took a turn for the worst, I haven't bought any new shoes. It's so depressing to look in my closet and to see my shoes fall into such deterioration! I wear the same 3-4 pair of shoes, EVERYDAY! They are starting to look like they need to go into the dumpster! :-(

Over the weekend I was spending time with my in-laws. My M.I.L. said that she just recently cleaned out her closets and has 2 large trash bags of items for donations. Including shoes! Now we don't have the same exact size foot, but depending on the shoe I can wear anything from a 7 to an 8. I asked her if it was alright if I went through her donations before she sent them off to see if any of the shoes fit, and then I can have new stuff for work. She agreed. Well when my husband came home with a giant black trash bag full of shoes I was shocked. I took my time going through each pair. Trying each on and of course having a mini runway show in my bedroom for my husband. (who could really care less) I was bummed when some didn't fit, but I ended up with 12 pairs ranging in work wear, boots, sandals and evening! SCORE! I was like a kid in a candy store excited!

There were some Jessica Simpson, alas which didn't fit, and some Carlos Santana which did! So now I have some designer shoes, to go with my new bag from my mom, and my thrifty wardrobe! Lol. Oh well it's who I am. I don't splurge on myself and this way I don't have to have buyers remorse for spending a ton of money. I don't mind second hand and my M.I.L. takes great care of her stuff! YES!

The thing I have splurged on recently is a new watch. Now I have 2 other watches, but one the battery is dead and the other one needs a link taken out of it. So while at Downtown Disney this past weekend we made a trip into the Fossl store. I stumbled upon a simple white watch with a silicone strap that was super lightweight and perfect for work. I had some Christmas money left over so I decided to buy it. I am glad I did because I love it! So elegant and easy to wear with almost anything. I can also change out the straps to coordinate with other outfits. Next trip down there I will probably buy the black one!

Well that's some of the exciting things in my world. Whew. Did think that I could handle that much excitement! Hey but you know what they say, it's the simple things in life right? What simple things get you excited?

Shelby and the Cruciate Ligament

This post may sound like something straight out of Harry Potter. Alas it is not.

Ever since we moved, Shelby's (our 3 and a half year old Rhodesian Ridgeback) separation anxiety has progressively gotten worse. We decided, after door frames, torn carpet and anxiety meds....that she should go to doggy day care. My mother-in-law is usually home during the day so we asked her if it was ok if Shelby spent the daytime there so that she can have a safe, and most of the time supervised, environment outside. This past Monday I was playing with Shelby on our bed. After I walked away I heard a loud thud and when I returned I saw our poor baby lying on the floor. She had fallen off! I had her get up, and walk around but I didn't notice anything wrong. I kept an eye on her, but only a little favoring of her hind side came from it, so I thought that she was just sore. On Thursday, the hubbs was playing with her and we went outside and she wanted to run, so we let her run her little heart out. We finished our evening and went to bed. Friday we awoke and didn't notice any discomfort in her so he took her over to his parents and off to work we went.

At 1PM Linda (M.I.L) informed us that she was limping really bad, and wasn't putting any weight on her leg. Crap. She called my sister-in-law, who is in vet school, for a recommendation. After informing her all the particulars she recommended that we take her to the vet for a check up and x-ray. Our vet just so happens to own the clinic and is a family member. So I made an appointment to see him. Once we arrived, despite hardly any limping, (my M.I.L. and I were joking that she was faking for attention) we described her symptoms and he went to work. He told us a number of things that could be wrong, but that we should get an x-ray just to check and make sure that there was nothing wrong with her hips, back, or broken bones. Once x-rayed he came in to tell us that she had nothing was broken and her hips and back are fine. Whew! He then said that we need to watch out for her Cruciate ligament, which is the ligament inside the knee. If that ligament is ripped, then it means surgery. Yikes. Hopefully it's just a pulled muscle, but we have pain meds and are watching her carefully. No running or craziness for the pup for a bit. Our poor baby! We are hoping for a speedy recovery. She already feels normal and wants to jump and play, but we are airing on the side of caution as she is still babying that leg!

Baby Charlee turns 1!!

Last weekend we went up north to visit my cousin's to celebrate the birth of an upcoming baby into the world and our beautiful God daughter's 1st birthday. We awoke bright and early Saturday morning, loaded up the car and piled in for the 3 hour drive up past Fresno. We stopped for breakfast and continued on. With a little black and white trouble for other members of the party, we made it in one piece. Organized our gift for the baby shower and got cleaned up for party #1 of the weekend. My aunt and uncle had invited all of their friends over to their house for tacos, margaritas, and family. My all time favorite past time. We got caught up with all the cousins, made some new memories and celebrated the upcoming birth of my newest cousin, slated to arrive in spring Maggie Rose.

Sunday, we all awoke and got ready for the birthday party. 5 people, 1 bathroom. That was an interesting adventure. Poor Darin was cast to my grandparents room so he could get ready in peace. We ate breakfast and then made our way over to help with the party. 20 years ago, my cousins Nick, Anthony, Matt, Brianne and I all took a photo on a rock in their backyard. Considering that all of our cousin's were not in attendance I still felt like we needed to retake the photo anyways and then take another photo with the new cousins as well, Darin, Amy and Auburn. We ate great spaghetti and then present time! While the guest of honor had absolutely no interest in anything but eating, my cousin took the honor of opening the gifts. He insisted in reading every poem in every card out loud. Charlee got an amazing amount of stuff, which will happen when over 50 people show up! After it was cake smashing time! Charlee got her very own Belle cake and smushed it to smithereens.

It was a wonderful weekend full of family and fun! My favorite kind of weekend. Please enjoy the photos! :-)

Re-visit

I have been going back through my old blog posts and just re-reading the things that I have wrote about. It seems that the basis of why I started this blog has been skewed a little. I began this as a way to get my thoughts out of my head and away so that I don't sit and stew on them. Now it seems I write mostly about the fun things that happen in my life; events, crafts and photography because I don't want to offend or bore any of my readers.

With all that I have been through in the past year; all the ups, downs, and challenges I have faced I still feel the need to continue to write it all out. However, certain things that I want to write and get out are not things that anyone wants to read. I tend to vent to my husband and my mother a lot and sometimes its just because I need it off my chest, but that is a huge burden that they shouldn't have to carry. I feel like I am being my typical self. Crawling into my shell and the guard being up high.

I feel like some days I am lost. Wondering what my purpose is supposed to be. I thought because I had skills that my purpose is to be helpful and creative with others, but sometimes I don't feel like the things I do are appreciated in the way I intend them to be. I still love to be creative as still fully intend on doing things that make my creative brain happy. But it will be for me, things I enjoy doing and if I feel like doing for others then I will. The hubbs doesn't understand my need to keep occupied, I seem to get addicted to one thing or another and have to follow it through. He appreciates it and loves how whole heartedly I do everything. I am glad that I have him and he (along with my mom) is my support system.

I have been reaching out to old friends. Those from high school that have matured but haven't lost what I liked about them. Most have changed in the fact that they have children or have moved away, but in a way I think a larger social circle might do me and my over thinking brain some good. We have as a couple expanded our social circle as well. Surrounding yourself with people that make you feel happy is the best way to get you out of a funk, which I for sure am in. Although I said I wouldn't have high hopes that this year would be better, I am always the eternal optimist in my own head. Hoping that things will be different. Well, it has not started off any better and even though I have some things to deal with I will hold my head high and be strong. Being there for those that need me, in good times and bad.

This year is already looking to be a big one again. 3 weddings, 1 baby shower and we are celebrating 10 years together and 5 years married. With all this to look forward to along with many of the other things already in the works, I can't help but feel a little apprehensive. Feeling like I am standing along the edge watching everyone else live their lives and I am stuck in a holding pattern. Waiting for it to move again. They say that things happen for a reason and I do believe that. However I want my husband and I to be able to have what we desire. Kids, home. I guess we will have to stop wanting it so much, and maybe it will come to us. Just a thought.

I got off on a tangent of thought process here. I guess the point I am trying to say is I have re-visited the thought of this blog. I will continue to write about the fun things; events, crafts and photography, but I think in addition to this I will need to write in a separate place all the other things that float around in my head. Things that I don't want on the world wide web. This will be a place of showcase and happy thoughts! And every now and then, maybe I will sneak in something reflective!

Happy Reading

Subway Art

I have been seeing a big craze on the internet for Subway Art. It's not really anything special, it's just a lot of words that have some meaning or common theme put together with various size and style fonts. With my handy dandy photo-shop tool I decided to take a crack at making one for my sister-in-law and her new husband. They ended up being so much fun that I made two more as well, both for birthday parties that I am attending over the weekend. One for my cousin and one for my dear friend from high school (who is mildly obsessed with Peter Pan.) It seems that I surround myself, including yours truly, with people that obsess over a singular Disney film. Anyways, I thought I would share the files with you since I can't wait to pick up the prints and in the frame they go! Yay!

I will update once I get them in the frames! So Excited!

*Update: They were such a big hit with the recipients. I know I will be making more like the Peter Pan one for upcoming birthdays. Of course a Sleeping Beauty one for myself! I will keep you updated when I make them! Below are the images printed and framed! Enjoy!

Siriusly!

Ok. Some of my loyal followers already know this, but I LOVE music! I mean I think my brain is 70% song lyrics, 25% design and craft stuff, and 5% everything else. With a father that sang and played guitar, and me dabbling in piano and guitar, it kinda makes sense. Most days I can't get through my drive to and from work without listening to the radio. (Some days I just need the silence) It would come as no surprise to you either that I worked in a music store for 4 years too. It was like a 00's version of Empire Records, without the sex, famous musicians and stealing of course.

For Christmas the hubbs got me an XM radio and service for my car. I must tell you, how I survived so long with FM radio I will never know! I mean in the valley of "good luck getting radio reception for longer than 2 miles" this thing is a godsend! No static and I can listen to the same channel forever! It is also helping me get introduced to new groups and songs because I am not constantly switching stations to find one without commercials or one that comes in clear! Not only am I listening to new pop music, but The Highway (the xm top country station) is my new favorite and have really gotten down to my country roots. Just thought I would share a couple of my favorite songs on the charts at this moment.

Pop:
THE WANTED -- GLAD YOU CAME
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION -- THANKS FOR NOTHING
HOT CHELLE RAE -- I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
FUN. -- WE ARE YOUNG
BREATHE CAROLINA -- BLACKOUT
ONE DIRECTION -- WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
CHRISTINA PERRY -- A THOUSAND YEARS
GOTYE -- SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW
(Mostly rock bands I know.....but hey its what draws to me)

Country:
CHRIS YOUNG -- YOU
HUNTER HAYES -- STORM WARNING
TAYLOR SWIFT -- OURS
DAVID NAIL -- LET IT RAIN
LADY ANTEBELLUM -- WE OWN THE NIGHT
GREEN RIVER ORDINANCE -- DANCING SHOES
KEITH URBAN -- YOU GONNA FLY

So there it is. A list of some of my favorite songs floating out there at this time. I am always open to suggestions so send 'em my way! :-)

Baby Closet Dividers

As the rest of the creative world of crafters has, I have also discovered Pinterest. I mean there is nothing more addictive to a creative mind then a website that is FULL of creative ideas and do it yourself projects. WHAT?!? It's like crack to us. I mentioned this very site to my mother, who is my queen of crafty creative ideas, and expressed great concern for her spare time. Alas, as I am, she is now addicted. We are throwing another meet the baby shower in May for my cousin's fiance. Although, we were invited to her baby shower thrown by her mother and sister, we could not attend due to scheduling conflicts. However even though we couldn't attend and we are throwing a shower of our own we still decided to give her a gift of essential items that she would need for when the baby arrives. I found this cute tutorial on pinterest for baby closet dividers. I decided to make them for the baby gift because they were oh so adorable. Please enjoy the photos of the actual ones I made. They were so easy and ended up really perfect! Yay!